California
8 now dead in still-raging Eaton Fire as Santa Ana winds pick back up
The Eaton Fire – one of a multitude of wildfires incinerating the Los Angeles area – is still burning with little containment on Saturday as the Santa Ana wind event fueling the blazes is set to continue into next week.
As of 6:30 a.m. Saturday, the Eaton Fire had scorched 14,117 acres and was 15% contained, which is up from the 3% containment reported on Friday night.
According to preliminary estimates from CalFire, over 7,000 structures have been destroyed by the blaze, which had claimed at least six lives, including one man who died while defending a home that had been in his family for 55 years, as of Friday night.
At a Saturday morning press conference, officials stated that a further two people died in the Eaton Fire, bringing the total deaths to eight.
L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna also confirmed that 19 arrests have been made in connection with the Eaton Fire; the arrests were made for looting, identity theft, narcotics possession and burglary.
The incredibly destructive wildfire has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of area residents.
Fire crews were aided by a lull in the Santa Ana winds that have been fueling the fires over the past couple of days, but authorities and weather officials are now shifting their concerns to an increase in gusty winds throughout the region.
-
Firefighters battle the Eaton Fire as it engulfs structures Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) -
The Andrew McNally House, a historical landmark, burns during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on Jan. 8, 2025. Rampaging wildfires around Los Angeles have killed at least two people, officials said Jan. 8 as terrifying blazes leveled whole streets, torching cars and houses in minutes.
More than 1,000 buildings have burned in multiple wildfires that have erupted around America’s second biggest city, forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) -
Firefighters protect a structure as the Eaton Fire advances Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) -
A resident sprays their property with a garden hose as the Eaton Fire engulfs structures across the street, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) -
A person uses a garden hose in an effort to save a neighboring home from catching fire during the Eaton Fire on January 8, 2025 in Altadena, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) -
The Eaton Fire burns a residence Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) -
A structure burns as the Eaton Fire sweeps through Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) -
The Eaton Fire burns vehicles and structures Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
“The fire is burning in an area with steep, complex terrain and critically dry fuels,” CalFire said in their latest Eaton Fire status update, issued at 6:24 a.m. Saturday. “Despite these difficulties, minimal fire growth was observed [on Friday], and priorities include maintaining current containment lines and ensuing perimeter control.”
“Gusty northeast winds will return to high elevations Saturday night into Sunday with gusts up to 30 miles per hour and relative humidity decreasing back below 20 percent,” the status update also stated. “Another Santa Ana wind event is possible around next Tuesday.”
The National Weather Service echoed those same sentiments, forecasting “moderate to locally strong” Santa Ana winds through at least Wednesday.
Elevated to Critical Fire Weather conditions will continue through that time, according to NWS.
“These winds combined with dry air and dry vegetation will keep the fire weather threat in the area,” weather officials said. “Moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds will affect the typical Santa Ana wind corridors on Saturday to Sunday and again Monday through Wednesday.”
-
A man reacts to encountering the remains of a fire-ravaged property in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) -
Kenneth Snowden, left, surveys the damage to his fire-ravaged property with his brother Ronnie in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) -
Homeowners Sohrab Nafici, left, and Christine Meinders return to their fire-ravaged neighborhood in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) -
Kenneth Snowden, left, surveys the damage to his fire-ravaged property with his brother Kim, center, and Ronnie in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) -
Homeowners Sohrab Nafici, left, and Christine Meinders return to their fire-ravaged neighborhood in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) -
The 1887 Andrew McNally House mansion on Mariposa Street in Altadena seen on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, was lost in the Eaton Fire. (Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images) -
Altadena, CA – January 8: The remains of a home lost in the Eaton fire on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Altadena, CA. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) -
Robert Lara, left, looks for belongings along with his stepfather after the Eaton Fire burns in Altadena, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) -
All eight homes belonging to several members of the Williams family were destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Southern California on Jan. 8, 2025. -
The former Zane Grey adobe home on Pinecrest Drive burned during the Eaton fire in Altadena Wednesday morning Jan. 8, 2025. (Will Lester/MediaNews Group/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin via Getty Images) -
A firefighter works to extinguish flames at the former Zane Grey adobe home on Pinecrest Drive which burned during the Eaton Fire in Altadena Wednesday morning Jan. 8, 2025. (Will Lester/MediaNews Group/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin via Getty Images) -
A before-and-after photo of one of the burned-down homes belonging to a member of the Williams family.
The Eaton Fire started on Tuesday amid hurricane-force winds near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive in the Altadena area.
It continues to burn as the Palisades Fire — the most expensive in Los Angeles history — began moving towards the heavily populated San Fernando Valley on Saturday morning.
Several other blazes erupted across the Los Angeles region last week, including the Kenneth, Hurst, Sunset and Lidia fires.
Click here for the most up-to-date information on the Eaton Fire from CalFire, and stay with KTLA for continuing coverage of the devastating Los Angeles area wildfires.